In Situ Pinning of Hip for Stable Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis on a Radiolucent Operating Table

Patients with stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) usually can ambulate at the time of diagnosis. Satisfactory results have been reported after percutaneous in situ pinning using a fracture table. The authors describe a technique to determine the skin-pin entry point for percutaneous pinning of the hip on a regular radiolucent operating table. The pin entry point determined by this modified method was reliable in 15 SCFEs in 13 patients. Pinning on a regular radiolucent table was much easier, without the need to transfer obese patients to a fracture table. It was also useful when a bilateral pinning procedure was performed using single draping. Obtaining modified frog-leg lateral radiographs in patients with a stable SCFE was not associated with avascular necrosis or chondrolysis.